Speed-recording mechanism



Feb. 10, 1931. J. HERSTEDT ET AL SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed 1925 5Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 10, 1931. J. HERSTEDT ET AL 1,791,759

SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 10,1931. J. HERSTEDT ET AL SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed 1 1925 5Sheets-fixed 3 1 v i A I l I'll .Feb- 3 J. HERS-TEDT ETAL ,7

SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM 1 1925 5 smu -she'd: 4

' Filed Nov.

Feb. 10, 1931. J. HER STEDT ETAL 1,791,759

SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedFeb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN .KBBSTEDT AND JOHN WIBERG, OF MOLINE,ILLINOIS SPEED-RECORDING MECHANISM Application filed November 14, 1925.Serial No. 68,985.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a speed recordingmechanism which shall furnish a permanent record of the speed made by anautomobile or other vehicle on which the instrument may be mounted, andwhich may be easily applied to known types of speedometers withoutnecessitating any radical change therein.

More specifically our invention resides in a dial operated by clockworkand which is perforated by a series of punches to mark a line on thedial. The inclination of this line will indicate the speed at which thevehicle is traveling.

16 Another object of our invention is to provide means for indicatingthe lawful rate of speed for the time during which the mechanism isbeing used. This is achieved by providing a plurality of punches havingproper designating characters thereon and which may be manually changedas the vehicle passes from territory in which one speed limit isallowable into another territory in which another speed limit ispermitted.

Further objects reside in the novel combi nations and arrangements ofparts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detailin the acompanying specification and will be apparent as the descriptionprogresses.

In the accompanying drawings in which we have shown a selectedembodiment of our invention Fig. 1 is a front view of our invention asmounted in a plate adapted to be supported upon the dash board of avehicle.

Fig. 2 is a view of the dial for use in connection with our invention.

drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a View taken from the opposite side of the plate than thatshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts in a differentposition.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 3 is a View of a fragment of Fig. 2 andv Fig. 9 is a section takenon the line 9-9 of Fig. 12. I

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10--10 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the same plane as Fig. 12, but showing theparts in a different position.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the cam plates.

Fig. 15 is an elevation of an automobile having our invention appliedthereto.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic'view showin the connections between certainparts 0 our invention.

Fig. 17 is an elevation of a portion of the rear of the automobile shownin Fig. 15. 7 Referring now in detail to the drawings we have shown ourinvention as mounted upon a plate 1 adapted to be supported upon thedash board of a vehicle. Supported in the plate is a speedometer 2 ofany suitable con struction which is adapted to be driven by a shaft 3coupled to another shaft (not shown) and which is driven in the usualmanner. Extending from the side of the casing in which the speedometeris enclosed is a shaft 4 upon which is mounted a pinion 5 meshing with agear 6 slidabl mounted upon a shaft 7 parallel to the sha t 4. Referringparticularly to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that the gear 6 isprovided with clutch teeth 8 engags5 ing with corresponding clutch teethon the clutch element 9 fast on the shaft 7. The clutch teeth arenormally urged into engagement with each other by means of the coilspring 10. The gear 6 is provided with a shoulder 11 for a urpose-whichwill presently appear. T e shaft 4 is slidably mounted in respect to thespeedometer and is provided at its outer end with a cam surface 12adapted to be engaged by a corresponding surface 13 u on a plunger 14mounted in the plate 1. y this means when the plunger is pushed inwardlyfrom the position shown in Fi 6, the pinion 5 will engage with the shouler 11 and force the gear 6 to the left as Viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, thuscausing disengagement of the clutch teeth.

Slidably mounted in the shaft 7 is the operating shaft 15 of therecording mechanism and it will be noted that this shaft 15 is providedwith a key 16 by which it is permitted to have movement longitudinallyof the sha t 7, but relative rotation therebetween is not permitted. Theshaft 7 is held securely in position by a bearing 17 received betweenthe shoulders 18 and 19.

The shaft 15 extends substantially parallel to the plate 1 and has itsend received in a cam casing 20. Received within this casing are aplurality of cam plates 20 mounted for sliding movement towards. andfrom the plate 1. These plates are best shown in Figs. 11 and 14, theone appearing in Fig. 14L being slightly different from the others,however, as will be explained later. Each plate is shown as mounted ingrooves 21 in the casing 20 to insure rectilineal movement and thismovement is caused by cams 22 mounted upon the shaft 15. Each of thesecams is received within an opening 23 in the'cam plate 20 and isprovided with a surface 24 of gradually increasing radius terminating ata shoulder 25.

. Each cam plate has a rearwardly extending leg 26 provided with a notch26 within which is received a spring 27 secured to the casing 20. Bythis arrangement when the shaft 15 rotates in the direction shown by thearrows in Fig. 14, it will be obvious that the cam plate is forcedrearwardly against the tension of the spring 27 until the shoulderpasses the point 28 on the cam plate and then the spring 27 will forcethe cam plate towards the plate 1 with a quick sharp movement. One camis provided for each cam plate and they are circumferentially spacedabout the shaft 15 so that the various cam plates will be operated insuccession, the plate nearest the speedometer being operated first andthen the others in succession.

The forward part of each cam plate is provided with a punch 29 which,when the plate is forced forwardly by its spring 27, will punch aperforation in a dial 30 formed of paper or the like and disposed behinda glass panel 31 placed in the cover 32 hinged over the dial. The dialis supported by means of projections 33 upon a spider 34; mounted uponthe stem of the clock 35 and adapted to rotate therewith.

The dial is marked with three concentric circles 36, 37 and 38 to formtwo annular recording spaces each of which is divided into twelve partscorresponding to the twelve hours on the clock face.

On each circle the spaces between the hour marks are divided intofifteen parts for a purpose which will presently appear. The widthofeach recording space between the circles 36 and 37 and also betweenthe circles 37 and 38 is equal to the length of a line of perforationsmade by the punches 29, and it is intended to use the space between thecircles 36 and 37 for the twelve hours constituting the day and thespace between the circles 3'? and 38 for the twelve hours constitutingthe night.

In order to adjust the mechanism for use during either twelve hourperioo, day or night, we provide the slidable connection between theshafts 7 and '15 as described above, whereby the shaft 15 with thecasing 20 and consequently with the punches and all mechanism foroperating the same may be moved bGC ily from a position wherein theywill punch a line of perforations between the circles 36 and 37 to aposition wherein they will punch a line of perforati between the circles37 anc. 38. Movement of the casing and the punches is achieved by meansof a handle 39 extending through a slot 10 in the plate 1 and connectedto a shaft 41 secured to a frame 12 which carries the casing 20. Theframe is steadied and guided in ts movements by means of the engagementof the shaft Q 1 in the slot 1O and by means of engagement of the frame12 with the bracket 13 which is mounted upon the casing of thespeedometer 2, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The position shown inFig. is that occupied'by the punches when perforating a line betweenthecircles and and that shown in i ig. 5 is the one occupied when they areperforating a line between the circles 37 and 38.

Gne of the cam plates 20", preferably the one nearest the speedometer isprovided with a projection 1 1-, best shown in Fig. 14; and shown indotted lines in Figs. 12 and 13. The others do not have such a projeeMounted for slidin vertical movement in casing 20 adjacent this camplate is a plate as carrying a block 16 in which are slidabl y Eachpunch mounted two punches at? and 13. is provided with a shoulder atively, which is engaged by a spii lg 51 or 52, as the case may be, andthese spri nor; ally urge the punches and i8 I331 plainly shown in F 12and The plate is normally held in elevated position by the spring 53,but may be depressed by means of a shifting member 54- which engages thetop of the plate 15 and is operatec from the front of the plate 1 bymeans of a shaft 55 controlled by a handle 58 and carrying a cam 55engaging a shoulder on the l 55 pivotally connected to the member l/Vhen in the elevated position shown in Fig. 12, operation of the camplate shown in Fig. 1 1 will cause the projection a to force the punch48 forwardly and perforate the dial. Vv hen the plate is depressed tothe position shown in Fig. 13 the same ope n ion will take place inrespect to the punch 49?. The punches at and 48 are provided at their ens with cams 47 and 48 respectively adapted to engage a cam projection 56which will bring the punches forwardly into position to be actuated bythe projection 44. After these punches have been operated they will bereturned to their initial position by means of their respective springs.

Each of the punches 47 and 48 is provided with a designating mark suchas a letter which will make a corresponding perforation in the dial. Forexample, the punch 47 has a letter H formed at its point and the punch48 has a letter C formed at its point. These punches are used to make arecord of the limits within which the vehicle is being driven. Forexample, when the vehicle is within city limits Where the speed limit isusually fifteen miles an hour the plate 45 is in the position shown inFig. 12 and then the punch 48 will be operated by the projection 44 onthe first cam plate, thus punching C in the dial to make a record of thefact that the city speed limit is the one to be observed. lVhen thevehicle passes the city limits the plate 45 is brought to the positionshown in Fig. 13 and hen the punch 47 will perforate the dial with aletter H indi "i b the vehicle is now on the high different speed limitis proper. "peed of the shaft 45 is such that all the cam plates 20 willbe operated successively din in that the speedometer registers mreferring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that tilt. ten perforations made bythe ten punches will extend between the circles 36 and 37 or 37 and 38,as the case may be.

its p *iously noted these circles are laid off into fifteen divisionsfor each hour and "herefore when a line of perforations 57 cxteinls froma dividing line on one circle to a line on the next circle nearer thecenter of 1:11-. dial, which line represents the next division of time,in case the next fifteenth of an hour, it will be obvious that the speaeter ndicates fif" en miles an hour. in the same fi ure line indicatesthat the vehicle took two-fifteenths of an hour to go one mile and, theare that the speed was n and a hall" milrs an hour. The line 59 is mo. c.iearly radial than the lines 57 and 58 and it will be seen t -t it willconsequently record a higher rate speed because of the fact that it tookless time to punch the line than it did the lines o and 58. The end ofthis line is marked with H formed by the punch 47, which would indicatethat the speed made was on highway beyond the city limits where thehigher rate of speed was pern'lissible. We contemplate marl-ting theface of the dial with graduations suitable for recordlimit of fifteenmiles an hour, the limit, and the rear of the dial with b s suitable forreco t ing a speed of thirty-five miles an hour, the usual permissiblespeed on the open highway. It is, of

course, obvious that these graduations may be varied to suit varyingconditions and a plurality of dials with different graduations may besupplied for said various conditions.

The provision of the springs 27 to actuate the cam plates 20 makespossible a very quick sharp blow to insure an accurate perforation ofthe dial. In order to adjust the springs they are all mounted in aslidable bracket 60 secured to the casing 20 by screws 61 passingthrough slots in the bracket. By this means the tension of the springsmay be adjusted as may be desired and the bracket may be readily removedto replace or renew springs as may become necessary.

It will be noted that a reverse rotation of the shaft is impossiblebecause of the fact that the shoulders 25 on the cams 22 will engage thepoints 28 on the cam plates, and that i the reason for providing theclutch connecti the shafts 7 and 15. It will be noted that this aratchet clutch so that if at any time the sh ft 7 rotated in the wrongdirection,

L110 suaft 15 will not be forced in any manner and therefore themechanism will not be in yured.

Suitable locking means is provided for securing the cover 32 inposition. This comprises a bolt 63 engaging a detent 64 on the coverwhich projects through an aperture in the plate 1, this constructionbeing shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The lock is controlled by a suitable keyoperating through a key hole 65 in the plate 1.

In order to indicate to the driver or to others the position of thehandle 56 we provide the shaft 55 with a pair of sockets 66 and 67adapted to receive rods 68 and 69 carrying indicating means exemplifiedby the letter H carried by the rod 68 and the letter C carried by therod 69. The sockets are so disposed that when the handle 56 is occupyingthe position shown in Fig. 1, the letter H carried by the rod 68 will bedisposed above'the dash board of an automobile so that it may be plainlyseen by both the driver and those in front of the vehicle. When theparts are in this position the lines of perforations on the dial willeach have the letter H at its ends, as shown at the end of the line 59in Fig. 3. When the handle 56 is shifted along the quadrant 56 to theright, as viewed in Fig. 1, the letter C carried by the rod 69 will bebrought into view and the letter H will be dropped out of view. The samemovement of the handle will operate the plate 45 in the mannerpreviously described so as to insure that each of the lines 57 or 58, asshown in Fig. 3, will have the letter C at its end. If desired, asimilar arrangement of indicating means may be placed at the rear of thecar and such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. Mountedupon any suitable support 70 on the rear of the automobile is pivoted ashaft 71 carrying a plurality of sockets 72, 73 and 74:. The socket 7 2receives an arm 75 connected by means of a cord or like flexible element76 to the handle 56. This cord passes over suitable pulleys 77 asplainly indicated. In order to connect the cord 7 6 to the handle 56 theplate 1 is provided With an arcuate slot 78 through which extends a pin79 on the arm 56. Secured to the arm 7 5 and to the plate is a tensionspring 80 tending to rotate the arm in one direction. The sockets 73 and74: contain respectively the rods 81 and 82 containing the capitalletters G and H respectively. From this arrangement it Will be obviousthat movement of the handle 56 and the corresponding rods 68 and 69 Willalso cause movement of the correspondingrods 81 and 82. Movement in onedirection is caused by a pulling of the cord 76, While movement in theopposite direction is caused by the spring 80.

From the above it will be apparent that We have provided novel andimproved means for making a permanent record of the speed at which avehicle is traveling. The means may be readily connected to aspeedometer of stand ard construction and at a reasonable cost. Theoperation is certain and positive in action. The operation of the devicehas been fully set forth during the progress of the description and itis not believed necessary to repeat it.

We are aware that changes in the form, construction and'arrangement ofparts may be made Without departing from the spirit and Withoutsacrificing the advantages of the invention and We reserve the right tomake all such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of the followingclaims.

We claim:

1. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having twoconcentric circles thereon forming an annular recording spacetherebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the Cal, a speedometer having ashaft, a plurality of cam plates slidable toward and from the dial'andeach having an opening, punches on said plates, cams on said shaftoperating in said openings to actuate said plates and punchessuccessively for perforating the dial in a line across the annularrecording space during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends ofsaid line of perforations indicating by reference to the time marks onthe circles the rate of speed for the distance.

2. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having twoconcentric circles thereon forming an annular recordin spacetherebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, for perforating thedial periodically in a line across the annular recording space during apredetermined distance of travel, said means comprising a plurality ofpunches, and means for operating said punches successively atpredetermined distance intervals, the ends of said line of perforationsindicating by reference to the time marks on the circles the rate ofspeed for the distance, a pair of additional punches, and means foroperating said additional punches selectively to perforate the dial Witha distinguishing perforation at the be inning of the line ofperforations.

3. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having twoconcentric circles thereon forming an annular recording spacetherebetvveen, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a shaft, a pluralityof cam plates each having an opening, punches on said plates, cams onsaid shaft opera ing in said openings to actuate said plates and punchessuccessively for perforating the dial in a line across the annularrecording space during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends ofsaid line of perforations indicating by reference to the time marks onthe circles the rate of speed for the distance, a pair of additionalpunches, and means for operating said additional punches selectively toperforate the dial with a distinguishing perforation at the beginning ofthe line perforations, said means compris ing a cam on one of said camplates to open are the additional punch at the same time the punch onthe cam plate is operated.

l. in a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having twoconcentric circles thereon forming an annular recording spacetherebetiveen, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a shaft, a pluralityof cam plates each having an open ing, punches on said plates, cams onsaid shaft operating in said openings to actuate said plates and punchessuccessively for perforating t e dial in line across the annular reeorspaced during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends of said lineof per forations indicating by reference tn the time marks on thecircles the rate of speed for the distance, a pair of additionalpunches, manually operated means for ecting one or the other of saidadditional punches for operation, means for positioning the selectedpunch, and cam on one of Md cam fee for operating the selected punch.

5. En a spe o recording mechanism comprising a dial having twoconcentric circles thereon forming an annular recording spacetherebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a shaft, a pluralityof cam plates each having an open ing, punches on said plates, cams onsaid shaft operating in said openings to actuate said plates and punchessuccessively for perforating the dial in a line across the annularrecording space during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends ofsaid line of perforations indicating by reference to the time marks onthe circles the rate of speed for the distance, a pair of additionalpunches, manually operated means for selecting one or the other of saidvadditional punches for operation, a cam on the rear end of eachadditional punch, a fixed cam adapted to be engaged. by the cam on theselected punch for positioning said selected punch, and a cam on one ofsaid cam plates for operating the selected punch.

6. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having twoconcentric circles thereon forming an annular recording spacetherehetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, means for perforatingthe dial in a line across the an 'nular recording space during apredetermined distance of travel, said means comprising a shaft, aplurality of cam plates having openings therein, punches on said camplates, cams on said shaft operating in said openings, and springsattached to said cam plates and adapted to be tensioned when said platesare retracted to impart a quick punch movement to said punches when thecams release the cam plates.

7. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having twoconcentric circles thereon forming an annular recording spacetherebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, means for perforatingthe dial in a line across the annular recording space during apredetermined distance of travel, said means comprising a shaft, aplurality of cam plates having openings therein. punches on said camplates, cams on said shaft operating in said openings and each having agradually increasing radius terminating in a shoulder, and springsattached to said cam plates and adapted to be tensioned when said platesare retracted to impart a quick punch movement to said punches when theshoulders of the cams pass a given point to release the cam plates.

8. In a speed. recording mechanism comprising a dial having concentriccircles th ereon forming concentric annular recording spacestherebetween, said circles being correspondinglv marked to indicatetime. and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a group ofcam-operated punches operating successively for marking the dial acrossan annular space from one circle to the other during a predetermineddistance of travel, the ends of said marking indicating on the circlesthe rate of speed for said distance,

and means for bodily moving said group of punches radially with respectto said annular spaces to position the marking means for marking in saidannular spaces selectively.

9. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having concentriccircles thereon forming concentric annular recording spacestherebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicatetime, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a group ofsuccessively operating punches for marking the dial across an annularspace from one circle to the other during a predetermined distance oftravel, the ends of said marking indicating on the circles the rate ofspeed for said distance, said marking means comprising a plurality ofcam plates, punches on said plates, a shaft, and cams on said shaftadapted to operate said cam plates and punches, and means for bodilymoving said group of punches radially with respect to said annularspaces to position said marking means for marking in said annular spacesselectively.

10. In a device having a circular dial and means for rotating the same,a punch adapted to mark said dial, a shaft, means for driving saidshaft, a cam on said shaft and controlling said punch, a pair ofadditional punches each having a designating mark thereon, a platesupporting said additional punches, a means controlled by said cam tooperate either of said additional punches selectively, and means forshifting said plate to bring either one of said additional punches intoposition for operation.

11. In a device having a circular dial and means for rotating the same,a plurality of punches adapted to selectively mark said dial in any ofsaid recording spaces, a shaft, means for driving said shaft, slidingframes supporting said punches. a pluralitv of cams on said shaft foractuating said frames to control said punches, said cams withdrawingsaid punches from said dial, spring means urging said punches towardssaid dial against the action of said cams, and means operated by saidcam to tension said springs.

12. In a device having a circular dial and means for rotating the same,a plurality of punches adapted to selectively mark said dial. in eitherof said recording spaces, a shaft, means for driving said shaft, aplurality of cams on said shaft and controlling said punches, a pair ofpunches, each having a designating mark thereon, a plate supporting saidpunches, a means controlled by one of said cams to operate either ofsaid punches, means for shifting said plate to bring either one of saidpunches into position for operation, and means operated by said shiftingmeans to indicate the position thereof.

' JOHN HERSTEDT.

JOHN WIBERG.

